Bikepacking Bikes

Inspiration

What is Bikepacking?

Simply put, bikepacking is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping; it evokes the freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. Click the link below to find out how to start. Start Here

How to Bikepack.

Broadly speaking, there are three bikepacking genres to choose from – Multi-day Mountain Biking, Ultralight Race & Gravel, and Expedition & Dirt Touring. Click the link below to learn about each.
Learn More

Where to go.

As important as it is to have a reliable bike and pack as light as you can, choosing the right route is perhaps the key to your enjoyment. Visit this section to learn how to choose a route, and some insight into navigation.
Learn More

When & How Long?

The average bikepacking trip should be based around riding between 25-75 miles (40-120 km) per day, depending on the weight of your load, the difficulty of the terrain ...
Learn More

The Routes Map

We have ~100 routes on our worldwide bikepacking routes map. Cick the link to see them plotted or select from the links to the right to filter. View The Map

Classic Routes

There are some routes that are made classic by their sheer perfection, and others by races. View The Classics

By Length (days)

By Location

Support/Advertise

It's not all riding bikes and sitting around a campfire; there's a lot of effort that goes into building content at BIKEPACKING.com. And we couldn't do it without continued support from great companies in the bike and outdoor industry. Get in touch and we'll tell you about our advertising, product review, and sponsorship opportunities... Send us an email

Contribute

We'd love to share your bikepacking stories and photography with the rest of the community. We welcome high quality contributions, including trip reports, videos, gear reviews, gear lists, recipes and of course, bikepacking routes from around the world.
Learn More

Sign Up

We promise not to harass you with a barrage of emails, or share your contact info with anyone. We’ll simply send you our newsletter that rounds up the best of what we feature on the site.

Ortlieb Seat-Pack Review: Test & Release (part 2)

Marking the release of their brand new bikepacking products, in the second installment of our Ortlieb doubleheader we trail test the recently unveiled Seat-Pack. Read on to discover the unique characteristics that may interest bike tourers, full suspension mountain bikers, and cyclists with Hulk-like thighs…

In case you missed part one of this launch review, click here to read the brief history on Ortlieb and the background behind their all-new bikepacking bags. Otherwise, carry on for a thorough look at the Seat-Pack.

Similar and different.

Consistent with the design of the Handlebar-Pack and Accessory-Pack, Ortlieb created the Seat-Pack with their signature honeycomb textured charcoal and matte black polyurethane-coated fabrics. Adding to the overall aesthetic congruity, it also features the same octagonal reflectors, bright orange webbing accents, and a couple parts made from unpolished aluminum. Like the matching handlebar bag, the pack also has an external latticework shock-cord for stashing a jacket, wet clothes, trash, or anything else you may want to carry, without necessarily mingle with the contents inside the bag. Unlike the Handlebar-Pack, the Seat-Pack has a modular construction. The design of the internal structure and strap mounting systems calls for bolt fasteners to secure them. These in turn pass through the outer fabric, in such a way that the seatbag’s waterproofing isn’t compromised. Furthermore, the modular attachment systems could make it easier to repair, should a buckle get crushed or damaged.

Just by looking at the Seat-Pack, it’s clear there’s something significant going on under the hood. There are four torx bolts that make up the seatpost strap system. As you can see in the photo below and to the left, each bolt screws into an interior rounded hex-nut after passing through the outer fabric shell and the interior aluminum angle bracket that secures the side stiffener panel. This forms part of its unique skeleton, one constructed from two aluminum brackets and a die-cut piece of plastic sheeting (HDPE, I believe), which forms the side panels and two upper struts. The rear upper strut is again secured by a pass-through bolt that doubles as the fastener for the rugged, coated seat-rail straps. This entire system is designed to maintain the shape of the front of the bag, prevents sag, and keep the pack stable. Which it does: the interior armature, combined with the two-strap seatpost system, making this one of the most laterally stable bags I’ve used.

The seatpost straps are really well made. And the aluminum racetrack loops, heavy duty sticky backed material, and quality velcro create a solid and virtually immovable connection to the seatpost. Unfortunately it comes with some drawbacks. The vertical real estate required by the double seatpost straps could be limiting. The fit wasn’t a problem on the Salsa Pony Rustler or Surly Krampus, but when I attached the Seat-Pack to the Niner RLT Steel, I noticed a potential issue. Bikes with a road oriented geometry tend to utilize a top-tube that’s relatively horizontal. This effectively increases the seat-tube height and eliminates the amount of exposed seatpost.

On this installation, as you can see in the photo above and to the right, the bottom strap had to wrap just overlapping the top of the seatpost collar. As a someone who rides a Large sized frame, it’s not a real issue for me. But be aware that it could make the Seat-Pack a no-go for shorter riders on gravel or road bikes. When I shared my observation with Ortlieb, they replied that none of their testers have had a problem with the seatpost straps’ fit thus far. Similar to other seatpacks, another issue I found with the large two strap system is that it can’t really be used with a dropper seatpost unless the post remains in the extended position.

Otherwise, the dual strap design is remarkably solid and worth the limitations, in my opinion. I might add that when loaded to the gills, toward the upper end of capacity, this stability becomes more compromised; the conical shape gives the bag a bit more side-to-side instability (‘tail-wag’) than other bags I’ve tried.

Built for tourers, full-suspension bikes, and Bruce Banner.

When loaded, the Seat-Pack looks slightly different than other bags on the market. Some have a watermelon-like silhouette, while Ortlieb’s sports more of a conical shape, which provides a few benefits. For bikepackers who have experienced thigh rub while using other seat bags, chances are the more narrow design of the Seat-Pack will eliminate that problem. Of course, there’s no guarantee for those of you with legs the size of the Incredible Hulk.

The tapered design also allows for a little more space between the tire and the bag, a promising benefit for use with full-suspension bikes. For testing purposes, I paired the bag with a Salsa Pony Rustler, which boasts 120mm of rear travel and 27.5+ tires (equivalent to the diameter of a of 29er). With the rear shock topped off with a little extra air pressure to account for the load, I didn’t have issues with the bag bottoming out against the rear tire. Furthermore, this setup was tested out in Pisgah, a North Carolina mountain bike playground full of big roots, rocky steeps, and plenty of drops—a stalwart proving ground for suspension.

Even with a slim front, this is a big seat bag. The Ortlieb Seat-Pack is specced at 8-16 liters, about two liters more than the Revelate Viscacha (both min and max) and three more than the Porcelain Rocket Mr. Fusion V2. Ortlieb employed a longer roll-top to create this extra space, which actually makes it a bit challenging to pack it down to a small and tight package. Refer to the photo on the bottom right… this is about as small as the seat bag will compress (maybe just a hair smaller).

This means it’s likely not the best choice for the ultra-minimalist packer. Personally, I pack my clothing in the seat pack, and that’s it. For an overnighter, I found myself tossing in an extra long-sleeve shirt and pair of pants just to fill it out enough to buckle. Of course, I’d welcome the extra space on a longer trip. And for those folks who rely on a seat pack for a higher percentage of their overall storage needs, this bag should fit the bill nicely. When I mentioned this to Ortlieb, they responded by explaining that given how each bag requires a significant tooling investment, they decided to start with a larger, more versatile version. Fair enough.

A couple stray elements worth noting include the side strap buckles, rear daisy chain, and reflectors. Ortlieb included two pairs of the octagonal reflector prints in the design, so no matter how much you compress the roll-top, they will likely be exposed at the rear. This is a great safety feature for the occasions when it’s necessary to navigate a stretch of trafficked road in the dark. An additional safety feature is the daisy chain fabric layer (shown below) which makes it easy to clip in a blink light. I already mentioned the rugged seat-rail straps, but it’s worth adding that each of the corresponding side straps have a cam-lock buckle, which keeps the webbing from loosening over bumpy tracks.

Full of air.

The crowning jewel on the Seat Pack is a small one. On the non-drive side of the bag there is a small light gray valve (see photos below). When ‘popped’ out, the rubbery plastic valve allows air to pass in and out of the bag’s interior. When it’s ‘popped’ in, it is tightly sealed. At first I wondered how sturdy it could be, but after using it for a month, I think it’s a really nice piece of hardware. To test the valve, and the general seal of the bag, we rolled it tightly with air in it and let it sit for a while…picture a balloon. A couple of hours later, the Seat Pack was still ‘inflated’. I will be curious to see how the valve is affected by long-term use and exposure to sun and weather; we’ll make sure to update this down the road a bit.

Pros

Reinforced design of the front point area helps eliminate sag.

The Air release valve in great addition to allow better and tighter packing.

Ortlieb’s waterproof fabric is pretty much dunk proof and known to be fairly burly.

Nice details including reflective printed triangles.

The rugged double strap system and internal reinforcements keep it slim and eliminate sag.

The modular strap system could be a great way of replacing straps, should they get damaged.

Cons

It’s simply too long for packing smaller loads, which is usually my preference with a seat pack.

The double seatpost straps may restrict shorter riders that may not have enough exposed seatpost (the same theory same applies to road/CX bikes with a horizontal top-tube that leave little seatpost exposed).

The conical shape can induce a little ‘tail-wag’ when the bag is overstuffed.

Wrap Up

All in all, the Ortlieb Seat-Pack is a great product worthy of consideration if you are in the market for a larger waterproof seat bag. My one real beef is that it’s tough to pack small, which I am prone to do on shorter trips.

This aside, there’s some very nice touches. The push pull air-release valve is very neat, and makes packing the bag all the more fluid. Its dual strap system and interior armature design does a solid job of stabilizing the load, especially from a sag standpoint – as long as the bag isn’t overpacked. From an aesthetic standpoint, Ortlieb created a really nice looking kit by carrying over the neutral, yet not too dull, charcoal gray and matte black scheme with an added pop of orange to set it off.

And last but not least, like the Handlebar-Pack, it carries on the Ortlieb tradition of being thoughtfully engineered, sturdily built, and completely waterproof.

Disclosure: The Ortlieb Seat-Pack was provided for this review about a month prior to launch.

Tags

I suppose the draw cord on the top would work for strapping some flip flops.

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

Yeah definitely.

Christopher

Interesting. Ortlieb’s website also displays a new frame due to come out in 2017. Regarding the exposed seat post length required, how would you say one needs? If it fits, this might just be the thing for you road bike which can’t accommodate a handle bar bag due to the road bike brakes…

Elad Levi

When it will be available ?

nhltfour

yea, any idea when it will be available for purchase in the US?

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

I have found that most handlebar bags (including Ortliebs (see photo above of Niner) for fine with drop bars. Regarding the amount of seatpost, maybe 4-5″…

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

It should be available soon; I am waiting to hear back from Ortlieb on exact date.

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

It should be available soon; I am waiting to hear back.

nhltfour

Thanks a bunch @bikepackingcom:disqus

Cheers!

Christopher

I don’t have any experience on the subject, I must admit. I believe I read on Revelate’s page that their handle bar bags aren’t compatible with road bike rim brakes since the cables go down vertically into the caliper and therefore interfere with the handlebar bag (unlike other rim brakes, where the cables go in sideways). Coming home, I just had another look at my road bike and I would say there’s a good chance the cables are sufficiently flexible to just push them aside without interfering with the brake function.

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

Ah yes, I glossed over the ‘brakes’ part.

Zoran Vasić

I called them Logan. Bags will be available at the end of April on web site for purchase.

mikeetheviking

Doesn’t Eric Parsons have a patent on this design lol:) Who was the first to introduce this style of baggetry? #bikepackinghistory

Richard

Seat bag manufacturers and reviewers ought to include a tire-seat clearance spec for their products, I suggest. For many of us without a great deal of room in that spot, knowing that dimension would help us rule a product in or out. Some makers do include this spec and it has helped mightily in my search for bikepacking gear. Do you know what the clearance requirement is for this Ortlieb seat bag?

I don’t. And I am not sure how this could accurately defined. The length of the bike, seat angle, and chainstay length would all play a roll in where on the bag would interface with the tire.

Juan

Is this product suitable for carbon seat posts?

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

That’s a good question. There aren’t any metal parts that would touch the post, so I don’t see why it would be an issue; I would recommend that you ask Ortlieb though.

Iñaki Vicuña

Hi great review.
I’m going to do a long ride (Netherlands-Slovenia) on a road bike.
I was reading your review to make sure the bag fits me, and the seatpost straps problem you encounter makes me wonder if it could fit on my bike. I’m 182 cm (6 feet) and my frame size is 56 cm.
The exposed seatpost on my bike is 6.15 inches (15.6cm) until the joint with the saddle structure. Should I look into other bags or the clearance of my seatpost is enough?
Thanks in advance,
Iñaki

Alistair Ling

Certainly 17cm will fit fine so I would say yes – just squash it up a tiny bit

Ian St.Martin

Are you able to measure the clearance required between the seat and the rear tire? I have a small Krampus with just 7″ of space. Would the Ortlieb fit?

Schuyler

Could you tell me what camera/lens combo you used for these photos? They’re really, really nice.
Thanks!

Schuyler

Pretty please?

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

All are with a 6d… some a 40mm f/2.8 pancake and others with a 50mm f/1.4 ‘nifty fifty’.

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

Hmm, I don’t have it with me to measure. I would say that’d be very tight though. Have you used other seatpacks?

Schuyler

Thanks so much! Love your website…

Ian St.Martin

Not yet. The small Apidura claims it needs 6 3/8″. But the Orltieb looks so pointed I was hoping that it might fit in a bigger pack.

Wayne Hughes

Can you recommend a bags for a Santa Cruz tall boy

http://www.bikepacking.com/ BIKEPACKING.com (Logan)

Any seat pack and handlebar pack will be fine, although with a full-sus bike, the smaller the bags the better. For the frame pack, you’ll have to get one made. Oveja Negraor Bedrock (links at bottom of page)…